Home prices rose in August in nearly all U.S. cities, and many of the markets hit hardest during the crisis are starting to show sustained gains. The increases are the latest evidence of a steady housing recovery.

If you thought Vegas was where the big gamblers went to play, you're behind the times. Sin City has been blown past by another exotic destination once infamous for corruption and mob activity. But you probably won't be heading there to play baccarat any time soon.

For the past 14 years, Microsoft has kicked off the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a a keynote address that set the tone for the exposition where tech companies showcase their latest wares. But Microsoft is announcing that next month's show will be its last.

The severity of America's gambling addiction isn't too far behind the nation's drug problem, and it's growing. In 2007, Americans lost more than $92 billion gambling, almost 10 times more than what U.S. moviegoers spent on tickets -- and about nine times what they lost 15 years earlier.

Las Vegas Sands benefits from being more geographically diversified than its major competitors. With a casino resort presence that spans the U.S., Macau and Singapore, LVS is a strong player that can ride out local downturns, and Trefis thinks its stock is undervalued by 10% to 15%.

With gas prices shooting ever higher, cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami have either allowed cab drivers to levy fuel surcharges or are considering them. But in New York, where the drivers of nation's largest cab fleet are struggling to make ends meet, officials say a surcharge isn't even being considered.

Singapore is expected to overtake South Korea and Australia this year to become the second-largest Asia-Pacific casino market behind reigning leader Macau. For U.S. investors looking to profit, Las Vegas Sands looks nicely positioned.

Las Vegas topped the U.S. foreclosure list for 2010. And while foreclosure activity increased from 2009 in most of the nation's largest metropolitan areas, it actually decreased slightly in the worst hit cities.

Now the No. 1. U.S. seller of LCD TVs, Vizio is setting its sights on the smartphone and tablet computer markets. But will its low-cost business model translate to the mobile electronics market? That's not a sure bet, but it'll be interesting to watch.

Casinos must look like easy targets for criminal minds -- like the robber this week who swept $1.5 million worth of gambling chips off a table at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and escaped by motorcycle -- all in under three minutes. But casino robberies are fairly rare, according to the Las Vegas police department. Here are some of the biggest heists of the last few years:

An armed man stole as much as $2 million in casino chips from Las Vegas' Bellagio hotel-casino early Tuesday morning, then escaped, the Associated Press reported, citing Las Vegas police officials. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Housing prices have seen a remarkable drop over the last few years, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. In a new series, DailyFinance takes a look at neighborhoods in troubled cities across the country, where the lingering foreclosure crisis means empty houses, fearful residents and broken dreams.